Warren man shot in neck

March 20, 2013

WARREN - A man whose body was found at his Second Street S.W. home Monday night died from a gunshot wound to his neck, police said.

Warren Police Lt. Jeff Cole said police are investigating the shooting as a homicide - the city's second of the year.

Warren police found the body of Rodney F. Fletcher, 45, of 423 Second St. S.W., at his home around 10:50 p.m. after receiving a call from a woman whose name has not been released.

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Tribune Chronicle / Virginia ShankWarren police found the body of Rodney F. Fletcher late Monday at this home on Second Street.

As of Tuesday, no arrests had been made and Cole said there were no suspects. Police were releasing few details and the police report did not provide much information.

However, Cole said police do not believe Fletcher's death was related to the stabbing of two men and shooting of another hours later near Trumbull Homes on the city's south east side

Sherry Hamner, who lives across the street from Fletcher, told Tribune Chronicle newspartner WYTV 33 News, "There was a lot of people out here real late and they brought him out and put him in the ambulance and everything. But he was a nice guy.

Hamner said she has lived in the area for the past eight years, and said it used to be a quiet community.

Attempts by the Tribune Chronicle to reach Fletcher's family were not successful.

A woman whose telephone number is listed on the police report under "reportee" declined to give her name, denied she is a relative and said she did not have any information about Fletcher or the circumstances of his death. However, she confirmed she came into his house Monday night and found him shot.

On Tuesday, no one answered the door at Fletcher's house or any of the homes nearby in that neighborhood.

The Trumbull County Coroner's Office made the ruling on Fletcher's cause of death after an autopsy was performed Tuesday. Police suspected that Fletcher was using alcohol and drugs at the time of his death, according to a police report.

Police said Fletcher has had run-ins with law enforcement.

According to court records and Tribune Chronicle archives, Fletcher was convicted five times of felony cocaine possession between 2001 and 2009, and was sentenced to between six months and two years in prison.

In 1997, he was sentenced to 11 months in prison after being convicted of cocaine trafficking. In 1994, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault.

Meanwhile, police continue to investigate the Jan. 1 shooting death of Cory Blackwell at the former Sunset Lounge on East Market Street.